As Hurricane Earl rolled up the east coast like a gyroscope set on destruct, my husband texted our daughter whose university sits right in its path. We’d already received numerous alerts from her school warning everyone to stay tuned if an evacuation were ordered.

He meticulously thumbed (multiple) texts urging our daughter to gas up her car, set out the candles and flashlights, and keep an eye and ear out for updates from the school.

To which she texted, “Blah blah blah blah.”

Her response left me wondering—What is the best English onomatopoeic device for imitating the sound of someone you’d rather ignore? Is it yakkity-yak, yadda yadda yadda, or even the mwa mwa mwa sound of a muted trombone signaling adults speaking on Peanuts cartoons?